Fabric take-up mechanism for textile machines



Sept. 25, 1951 E. M. zEscH FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES ENTOR: EqyenwKZeJ-cfi, BY M W ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 25, 1951 E. M. zEscH 2,569,394

FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 2, 1949 s SheetLs-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

Z/ BY @044} W ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 25, 1951 z sc 2,569,394

I FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: CA a a Eugene/H. m,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Eugene M- Zesch, Shillington, Pa., assignor to Karl Lieberknecht, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application J uneZ, 1949, Serial N 0. 96,666

This invention relates to take-up mechanisms for textile machines. More particularly, it is concerned with take-up mechanisms for straight knitting machines of the type ordinarily used in the production of fiat full fashioned stocking blanks, wherein, the fabric is drawnfrom the 14 Claims. (Cl. 66-149) needles by slowly rotated draw-off reels. and V wherein, in order to insure the .formation of uniform loops throughout, the tension on the fabric must be progressively varied, i. e., decreased during the knitting. Ordinarily this is accomplished by multiple weights hung'from chains or cables connected to the draw-off reels, fromwhich chains: some of the weights had to .be removed by "the machine attendant at prescribed intervals duringthe knitting of successive stocking'blanks.

Thechief aim of my invention is 'to provide a simple and inexpensive take-up mechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation to periodically vary the tension imposed upon the fabric by --the--draw-ofi' reels as required during each knitting cycleof' the machine, withaviewto dis- "pense with thenecessity'for dependence, asfhere- 'tofore, 'upon the "skill. and judgment'of the machine attendant to manually regulate the tension.

In connection with take-up mechanism having the foregoing attributes, it is a further :aim of my invention to provide means whereby the mechanism is automatically rendered inactive during the fashioning phases of each stocking knittingphase w-ithoutrelaxation of the tension on the fabric, as well as means which will allow reverse rotation of the fabric without relaxation of the tension during the welt closing phase of each knitting-cycle.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. l-"is a skeletonized view in cross section, of

a straight stocking knitting machine with auto- *matic "fabric draw-off mechanism conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 .is afragmentaryview in top plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows 11-11 in Fig. 1, and drawn to a larger scale.

looking as. indicated. by the angled arrows VIIVII in Fig. 1.

With more specific reference to these. illustrations, 8 designates the fabric take-up reel of my improved draw-on mechanism whereof the shaft 9 is rotatively supported in. fixed bearings, such as shown at 10 in Fig. 2, on the framework of the machine. After customary practice, the roller 8 is provided at opposite ends "with the usual pull straps 8a. To the reel shaft 9. is affixed a ratchet wheel l2 adapted to be picked by .a spring-influenced pawl l3 on a, carrier. in the form of an arm 1.4. which is free .foroscillation about said shaft. By means of a link I 5, the pawl carrier 14 is coupled with a stud I50. on one extremity of 'a horizontally-arranged floating lever [B fulcrumed intermediate its ends .to rock about a fixed pivotl'! on the machine framework. A

roller 18 at the other end of-the-lever I5 is disshown, the pawl guard 2| has a rearwardly extending-tail 2Ia whereof the end is forked to straddle a fixed longitudinal rod 22 and provided with set screws 23 which bear upon said rod from above and below, and by which the adjustments of said guard may be made. Retrogression of the draw-off reel 8 is prevented by cooperation of spring urged detent pawl 24 with a stop ratchet wheel 25 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is a duplicate of the ratchet wheel l2, and which is likewise afllxed to the shaft .9. By means of a relatively strong tension spring 28, the pawl carrier 26 is normally held in the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 4, with a finger projection 26a thereof engaging a fixed stop 29 on the front bed rail. 30 on the machine framework.

For the purpose of gradually turning the reel 8 to draw the stocking fabric F away from the knitting needles 3| (Fig. 1) during its formation, I have provided means including a weight mass W which is hung. from one end of .a cable 32. As shown, the cable. 32 passes over and under guide sheaves 33 and 34 free. to rotate about shafts 35 and 36supported by brackets 31 and .38 which are secured. respectively to .-a. fixed longitudinal rod 39 in the rear. of the machine at the top andto the rear bottom longitudinal frame rail 10- of the machine. The opposite end of the cable. .32 is connected to a clevis 4| which. straddles another horizontally arranged lever 42 pivoted at 4.3 on

a fixed upstanding bracket 44 on the rail 40. A roller 45 carried between the ends of the clevis 4| is arranged to ride upon and to be shifted along the lever 42 for the purpose of varying the tension imposed upon the fabric F by the mechanism in a manner later on explained. At its distal end, the lever 421s coupled to the lever H: by a short vertical link 46. The laterally turned end 41a (Fig. '7) of a round section horizontal link rod 41' serves as the axis about which the roller 45 revolves, and also as the pivotal connection for the terminal clevis 4| of the cable 32, the other end of said link rod being pivotally connected at 48 to the pendant extremity 49a of a rocker arm 49 free on the shaft 35 of the cable guiding sheave 33. The short upward extremity 49b of rocker arm 49 is coupled, by means of a forwardly-extending link rod 50, with the up? per arm of a lever affixed to a longitudinal rock shaft 52 at the front of the machine. The

'lower arm of said lever is coupled in turn, by

means of a link 53, with a pendant arm 54 on another longitudinal rock shaft 55. As shown, the arm 54 has a lateral cam projection 54a which bears against a rotary cam 55 on a longitudinallyextending auxiliary or control shaft 51 at the front of the machine, said cam having peripheral segmental rises 55a and 55b. The arm 54 is held to the cam 56 by the pull of a spring 58 upon the arm 49 as will be readily understood from Fig. l. Secured to the control shaft 51 alongside the cam 56 is another rotary cam 59 (Figs. 1 and 6) with peripheral rises 59a and 5922 which are adapted to act, at different times, upon a finger '60 free on the rock shaft 55. As shown, the finger Y 65 is subject to a spring 6| in tension between it and a fixed anchorage 52 on the bottom front rail 53 of the machine framing. The rearward tail 50a of finger 5G is apertured for sliding passage through it of the lower end of an angular 'link rod 54 whereof the upper end is connected to the lateral extremity 65a of a detaining arm 65 free on the rod 22 hereinbefore referred to.

By suitable mechanism, not illustrated, operated from the main cam shaft 25 of the machine, the control shaft 51 is intermittently racked through a complete rotation for each knitting cycle. Secured to the link rod 64, with interposition of cushioning springs 55 and 61 above and below the tail 60a of finger 65, are collars 68 and 69. At

certain times, as presently explained, the detaining arm 65 is moved clockwise so that its angular end 652) will intercept the pivot stud |5a by which the link I5 is connected to lever l5 and so prevent operation of the latter as in Fig. 3. In the event of either premature or belated actuation of the finger 58 by the rises 59a and 591) on cam 59, one

' or the other of the springs 65, 61 will yield to prevent bending of the link rod 64 or injury to the' detaining arm 65.

Operation Normally, as the knitting proceeds after closing of the welt of the stockin blank, the projection 54a of arm 54 bears upon the concentric 701ofthe spring 28 until the rise 59a. of cam 59, on

' the auxiliary cam shaft, passes from beneath the 4 incidently prevented by action of the detent pawl 24 upon the stop ratchet 25. Upon passage of the rise or high spot |9a of the cam l9 from beneath the roller I8, the floating lever I6 is released to the influence of the weight mass by virtue of its connection, through the link 46, to the lever 42'upon which the roller associated with the clevis 4| at the end of the weight cable 32 bears. Thus during the remainder of the current rotation of the main cam shaft 20, the stocking fabric is maintained under a definite degree of tension by reason of the yielding torsional pressureexerted on the draw-off reel 8, as will be readily understood. Thus, by successive actuations of the floating lever It, the draw-off reel 8 will be rotatively shifted incrementally and the stocking fabric thereby taken up gradually at a uniform rate.

During the knitting cycle of the machine, the auxiliary cam shaft 5'! is intermittently shifted rotatively as hereinbefore explained for actuation, by the cam 55, of the follower arm 54 which, through the interposed parts 52, 5|, 5G, 49, and

' 4T, causes'the terminal clevis of the weight cable 32 to be moved rearwardly to different extents toward the fulcrum 43 of lever 41. In this way, the eflect of the weight mass W upon the floating lever I5 is automatically decreased, with corresponding reduction in the tension imposed upon uniform fabric loop size throughout the length the fabric as required for determination of a of the stockings.

During certain phases of the knitting cycle, as for example, in hooking up the starting course incident to formation and turning of the welt by automatic means such as disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,269,463 granted to K. R. Lieberknecht on January 13, 1942,- or incident to fashioning of certain types of. heels with suspension of the knitting by I a central group of instep needles in the manner described in my Patent 2,432,108 granted to me on December 9, 1947, it is desirable to lock out, i. e., to prevent operation of the take-up. This is accomplished, at the proper times, under control of the rotary cam 59 on-auxiliary camshaft 51 by action of the rises 59a. of cam 59 on auxiliary cam shaft 5] upon the finger whereby, through the link 64, the stop arm is swung inward about the rod 22 as an axis, into the path of the stud |5a. as in Fig. 3, to keep the lever l6 temporarily in the broken line floating position of Fig. l'with the pawl |3 held retracted from the ratchet wheel |2 by the guard 2| as the rise of cam l9 passes beneath the roller |8. At these times, the fabric is tensioned by the influence of spring 28 upon the pawl arm 26 and, in turn, of the pawl 24 upon the ratchet wheel 25. During automatic welt closing, after connection of the pull straps .8a. of the reel 8 to the welt rod B (Fig. 1), and after transfer of the initial course of the fabric back to the needles 3|, the reel will respond to the pull of the fabric and be rotated counterclockwise through approximatelya quarter revolution. All the while, the fabric is tensioned by action of the spring 28 upon the pawl arm 26 which latter is forced to turn with the reel 1 due to engagementof the detent pawl 24 with the stop" ratchet 25. The fabric will thereafter be tensioned for a time solely under the influence finger 60 to permit retraction of the detaining arm 65 and release of the lever 16 for actuation by cam l9 on the main cam shaft 20 of the machine.

While ,for the purposes df exempli fieation herein, Phave shown and described my invention in "association with a straight *flat fa'shionedstoking' knitting machine, it'isnotto be construed-as being thus limited, since, by suitable modifications "within the scope of the broader'of the appended claims, it can be adapted for use in connection with othertypes of'knitting machines as well as other forms of fabric producing-ma- -'chinesas will be readily understood 'by "those "skilled in the textile arts.

'Havin'g'thus describedmy-inventiomI claim:

1. Inffabric'take up mechanism for'texifilemachinespa fabric draw-off -reeland rackingmeans for turning it; means to prevent-reverse rotation of the reel; a floatingly-supported horizontal lever with ta weight thereon operative, through the racking means, to normally torsion 'the'reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension;

'3. Fabric take-up .-mechanismaccording to claim 1, further-including lock-out means-t0 prevent operation of' the racking'means by the floati'ngly-supported lever at predetermined titres.

'4. In fabric vtake up mechanism for textile-machines, .a fabric draw off reeland. racking means forwturningrit means to prevent reverse rotation -.of "the :reel; a horizontally-arranged fioatinglysupported lever connected to the reel :racking means; a second horizontally-arranged lever with its @distal end coupled with the first lever; weight means connected to the second lever to influence the first lever for maintenance, through the racking-means, of'yielding torsion on-thereel to hold the fabric under tension; and means automatically operative .tocshiftthe connectionof the weight means along the second lever'for the purpose of varying the tension on the fabric during formation.

5. In fabric take-up mechanism for a textile machine-a fabric draw-off reel and racking'means for turning it; --means to prevent reverserotation of the reel; a weight influenced fioatingl-y-supported-member operative, through the racking means, to normally torsion the reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension; means for periodically actuating said member for communication, through the racking means, of incremental rotary shifts to the reel to take up the fabric; lockout means to prevent operation of the racking means by the fioatingly-supported member at predetermined times; and auxiliary means for maintaining the fabric under tension during the lockout periods.

6. In fabric take-up mechanism for textile machines, a fabric draw-off reel; racking means for turning the reel comprising a ratchet wheel on the reel and a carrier with a pawl thereon for picking the ratchet wheel; a weight-influenced iioatingly-supported member operative, through the racking means, to normally torsion the reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension; means operatively connecting the pawl carrier and interposed means adapted to impart a momentary kick to said :leverat-each rotation.

ofi the racking' means to thefloatingly-supported member for actuation thereby; reverse rotation "periods.

7. In fabric-take-up mechanismfor a straight fiat-fashioned stocking blank knitting machine havinga seriesof needles, and a'c'am shaftfrom which the'needles are operated "to produce-the "fabric, a draw-off reel "and racking means for turning "it means to prevent reverse rotation'of the 'reel; a "weight-influenced floatingly-supported member operative, through the racking means, to'normallytorsion the reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension; a'cam on "the cam shaft adapted, at each rotation, to impart a momentary kick to the floatingly-supported memberifor communication, through the racking tmeans, iofan 'incrementalrotary shift to the reeltotakeupthe fabric; lo'ckout'means to prevent operation of "the racking means by the floatingly support'ed member at certain times during the knitting of each stocking blank; and auxiliary means for maintaining the "fabric under'tension during the lookout periods.

8. In fabric take-up mechanism for a straight fflat fashioned stocking blankknitting machine having aseriesof needles and a'cam shaft'from which the needles .are operated to produce the "fabric, a draw-off reel and racking means for turning it; means'toprevent reverse rotationof the reel; .a weight-influenced fioating'lyesup- ,ported member-operative, through the racking means, .to vnormally torsion the reel for maintenance-of 'the"fabric under tension; a cam -on the camshaft adapted, at each rotation; to im- .part a momentary kick "to 'the floatingLy-sup- .ported member for communication, through the racking means, of "an incremental :rotary shift to the reel to take up thefabric; andlockoutmeans "to prevent operation of theracking me'ans'by the 'iloatingly-supported member at certain times during the knitting of each'stocking'blank, comprising ,a normally retracted "stop arm adapted forrmovement into th'epath of the floatinglysupported memberto zarr'est it in fioatingposi- 'ition, an intermittently rotated auxiliary "cam shaft with ;a cam thereon, and interposed connections whereby said stop arm is controlled from the latter cam.

9. In fabric take-up mechanism for a straight flat-fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a series of needles and a cam shaft from which the needles are operated to produce the fabric, a draw-off reel; racking means for turning the reel comprising a ratchet wheel, a carrier having a pawl thereon for picking the ratchet Wheel, and a guard for controlling the pawl; a weight-influenced fioatingly-supported member operative, through the racking means, to normally torsion the reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension; means operatively connecting the pawl carrier of the racking means to the fioatingly-supported member for actuation thereby; lock-out means to hold the floatinglysupported member in floating position at certain times during the knitting of each stocking blank,

.tension during the lock-out periods.

10. In fabric take-up mechanism for a straight flat-fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a series of needles and a cam shaft from which the needles are operated to produce the fabric, a draw-off reel; racking means for turning the reel comprising a ratchetwheel, a car rier having a pawl thereon for picking the ratchet wheel, and a guard for controlling the pawl; a weight-influenced fioatingly-supported member operative, through the racking means, to normally torsion the reel for maintenance of the fabric under tension; means operatively connecting the pawl carrier of the racking means to the i'loatingly-supported member for actuation thereby; lock-out means to hold the fioatingly-supported member in floating position during the welt turning phase of each knitting cycle with the pawl of the racking means retracted from the ratchet wheel by the pawl guard; and reverse rotation prevention means comprising a second ratchet wheel on the reel axis, a second pawl to cooperate with the second ratchet wheel, and spring means for normally holding the second pawl carrier in engagement with a fixed stop, but allowing reverse rotation of the reel incident to welt turning when the floatingly-supported member is locked out as aforesaid.

11. In fabric take-up mechanism for a straight flat-fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a series of needles and a cam shaft from which the needles are operated to produce the fabric, a fabric draw-off reel and racking means for turning it; means to prevent reverse turning of the reel; a horizontally-arranged floatingly-supported lever connected to the racking means; a second horizontally-arranged lever with its distal end operatively coupled to the first lever; a weight-influential upon the first lever to maintain, through the racking means, yielding torsion on the reel to tension the fabric; a cam on the cam shaft adapted, at each rotation, to impart a momentary kick to the first lever, through the racking means, and in turn, an incremental rotary shift to the reel to take up the fabric; a cable with one end thereof connectedito the second lever having a weight suspended from its other end; and idler sheaves over which the cable is guided.

12. Fabric take-up mechanism according to claim 11, further including means for shifting the connection of the weight cable along the second lever for the purpose of varying the tension on the fabric during the knitting of each stocking blank.

v 13. Fabric take-up mechanism according to -claim 11, further including an intermittentlyrotated auxiliary cam shaft with a rotary cam thereon; and interposed instrumentalities controlled'by said cam for shifting the connection of the-weight along the second lever for the purpose of varying the tension on the fabric during the knitting of each. stocking blank.

- 14. In fabric take-up mechanism for a straight flat-fashioned stocking knitting machine having a series of needles, a cam shaft from which the needles are operated to produce fabric, and a draw-off reel; racking means for turning the reel including a ratchet wheel, a carrier arm oscillatable about the reel axis and having a pawl thereon for picking the ratchet wheel, a guard for controlling the pawl; a weight-influenced floatingly-supported lever connected to the carrier arm, and a cam on the cam shaft adapted, at each rotation, to impart a momentary kick to the floatingly-supported member for communication, through the pawl, of an incremental rotary shift to the reel to take up the fabric; lock-out means for holding the floatingly-supported member locked in floating position with the pawl retracted from the ratchet Wheel by the guard during the welt turning phase of each stocking knitting cycle; reverse rotation prevention means including a second ratchet wheel on the reel, a second carrier arm with a pawl thereon for normally holding the detent arm to cooperate with the second ratchet wheel, and spring means for normally holding the second pawl arm in engagement with a fixed stop but allowing reverse rotation of the reel incident to welt turning when the fioatingly-supported member is locked out as aforesaid; and means for controling the look-out means including an intermittently-rotated auxiliary cam shaft and interposed connections between said lock-out means and said auxiliary cam shaft.

EUGENE M. ZESCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,004,219 Richter June 11, 1935 2,064,710 Wirth Dec. 13, 1936 2,185,963 Lambach Jan. 2, 1940 2,246,363 Kellogg June 17, 1941 2,249,422 Fradenburgh July 15, 1941 Sirmay Jan. 2, 1945 

